North Fremantle Community Association convenor Gerry MacGill sent me the information that I copy below, as I believe it will interest people outside North Freo as well.

Some 30 residents were provided with briefings on current projects for the North Fremantle foreshore, from the Traffic Bridge to Rocky Bay, by Councils staff Joanne Smith, Parks Manager; Katrina Sachse, Senior Projects Officer, Landscape and Natural Areas; Adam Kimball, Traffic and Civil Design Coordinator; and Anthony Apps, Landscape Architect.The presentations were notable for the willingness of the present Council representatives (in contrast to some of the former) to encourage participation by the community in planning and implementation. This opens up opportunities for community participation. The NFCA will work with the Council over the next month or so to develop a structure for cooperation between Council and the community. We welcome expressions of interest from residents who would like to be part of this work.

The current projects are:

North Fremantle Foreshore Management Plan 2013The plan has many recommendations, many not implemented, which require prioritisation and an implementation program

Riverbank funded North Fremantle Foreshore Vegetation Assessment and Management ProjectThis plan is currently out to tender by qualified consultants and will involve an extensive community consultation component.

NorthbankThe Department of Parks and Wildlife officers will continue to monitor the works undertaken and assess their effectiveness.Continuation of the foreshore access path under the Traffic Bridge was recommended by some residents.

Prawn Bay constructed wetlandAn engineering report, not yet publicly released, will be important input into a future discussion about the future of Prawn Bay. NFCA has previously expressed the view that most of the large rocks placed there to make the wetland work should be removed an allow the river to establish its natural shoreline.

Portside ParkThe park has no particular function or attractions for users. The timber structure and seats serve no purpose. It could function as spillover for Harvey Beach on at very busy times.— not for bathing, but perhaps a paddling pool below the ‘amphitheatre’. A community discussion on this will be invited.

Rocky Bay Heritage TrailThe trail is being redesigned. Public input will be invited into what features and events it should highlight. There is, for example, much more scope to tell the story of the suburb’s industrial history.

Cypress HillThere was considerable discussion of fire hazard associated with inappropriate vegetation on the hill. This will be an important part of the Vegetation Assessment and Management Project, but residents believe that hazard reduction is urgently needed now.

Dinghy StorageThe view that dinghy storage and movement is a major contributor to foreshore erosion was seriously contested. Boatwash was cited as the major cause. If dinghies have to be stored (as demanded by the Swan River Trust) storage areas should be sensitively located among the vegetation, not as ‘boat park’.

I made my epic journey from Fremantle across the mighty roaring Swan river this morning to have a look at the Elizabeth Quay development in Perth and must say I am underwhelmed. It appears to be a whole lot of money for not that much at all, but that is just my first impression.

To be fair to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority EQ is still a work in progress and will benefit from more buildings around it and more hospitality venues. There is also still a major ceramics artwork by Sandra Hill and Jenny Dawson to be installed, so I will reserve my final judgment for a few years.

The thing that impressed me most was the giant bird man in a boat by Aboriginal artist Laurel Nannup. It’s stunning!

There was not much food on offer so why did the MRA not put signs around EQ to point out that the Swan River Community Market was on only metres to the east of the development? After all they pay to have the markets there so why not do some decent marketing to support the stallholders.

It is hard to stay inside when it is such a perfect day. Stunning blue sky, the sun blazing and 20 degrees, so what better way to spend part of the morning than wandering along the shore of the Swan River at North Fremantle. I am planning to go back there soon and shoot more streetscapes and take photos of some of the lovely buildings they got up that way.

I sincerely hope that North Freo will remain with the City of Fremantle when the new council boundaries are announced by State Government in late July. Fingers crossed!